Old synagogue, new year: celebrating Ballarat's Jewish heritage

Thousands of Jewish Australians are celebrating the start of the year 5774 (according to the Jewish calendar). In Ballarat, a group of people gather in mainland Australia's oldest synagogue to mark Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year - with a service.

A few dozen people have congregated in the hall at the back of mainland Australia's oldest synagogue - built in 1861 - after a rare service.

A table in the centre of the room is crowded with plates of food and the people - some of whom have come from Melbourne and Geelong - chat, eat and drink together.

Alan Jacobs came from Melbourne to conduct the service as a lay preacher, because the community is too small to have its own rabbi.

He says Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year - and the 10 days leading up to Yom Kippur - or the Day of Atonement - are very significant for Jewish people.

"Basically what we're doing is praising God, thanking God for giving us life, for giving us our opportunity to live as free people.

"On Yom Kippur, we have a convocation, get together, pray to God and fast for 25 hours.

"This period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is called the 10 days of penitence, it's a very special period of reflection."

The president of the Ballarat Hebrew Congragation John Abraham is proud of his Jewish and his Ballarat heritage.

"I'm fourth generation Ballarat, my great grandfather came to Ballarat in the early 1850s."

He says Ballarat had a significant Jewish population - possibly more than a thousand - when the synagogue was built.

"The synagogue would've been one of the early substantial buildings in Ballarat."

Mr Abraham says it's important the small community continues to mark important Jewish holidays locally.

"It's very important religiously and socially, but it's also crucial in keeping our old synagogue alive and operating."

Carol Hughes grew up in South Africa but has called Ballarat home for over 20 years.

She says it can be challenging to keep in touch with her Jewish roots because the community here is so small, but says it's special to be a part of it.

"The Jewish community tend to know each other, we don't get together all that often but it's a good feeling and it's a close feeling."

She says she enjoys marking important events locally.

"I really enjoy it, we're very fortunate that we have quite a few people who come to attend the service here. It makes it quite a vibrant environment and we just wish we could get more people."

Vicky Grosser drove from Geelong to attend the service. But she has a connection to Ballarat that stretches back several generations.

"My great grandfather came here from Poland via England as a watch maker in the 1850s during the Gold Rush days."

Ms Grosser says her family wasn't religious when she was growing up, but when she got older she decided to reconnect with her Jewish heritage.

"I decided I wanted to have a connection back with this community in Ballarat."

She says she loves coming to Ballarat to celebrate Jewish holidays in the same synagogue as her great grandfather.

"The chandelier is something that that part of the family donated, and I get to sit under it now with electric lightbulbs and think, 'wow, we all have this fantastic connection that brings us back here each year'."